Circuit-opening switch for electric heaters.



CIRCUIT OPENING SWITCH FOB ELECTRIC HEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10, 1-912.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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ROBERT KUHN, or DETROIT, moment.

CIRCUIT-OPENING SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC v i To all whom it may concern .Be it known that I, ROBERT KUHN, a citizen of the United States of America, residin tate ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsimOircuit-Opening Switches for Electric Heaters,

' of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to electrically-heated instruments, being more particularly desi ed for use in connection with electrica y-heated sad irons.

It is the object of the invention to provide means for quickly adjustin the connector plug so as to break the e ectrical circuit without disengaging or disconnecting the conductor cord from the instrument. Thus the connector performs the additional func- -to the flexible cord E, and .is adapted for engagement with the contacts 0..

tion of a snap-switch, which avoids arcing between the terminal contacts and the consequent burning of the same.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through a portion of a sad iron, to which my improvement is applied, showing the connector in position for closing the electric circuit. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the parts in position for breaking the circuit. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified construction.

In the present state of the art, it is usual to attach electrically-heated sad irons and similar instruments to the electric circuit by a flexible conductor cord, having a plug terminal for engagement with terminal contacts on the instrument. In use the current may be turned on and off from a wall switch; but for convenience it is usual to Specification of, letters Eaten-t.

at Detroit, in the county of Wayne necting the cord when the iron is temporarily not in use, resulting in danger ofoverheating. I Withmy improved construction, whenever the iron is not in use, or where the heat 1s too. great, the circuit may be broken, wlthoutdisconnecting the cord. Furthermore, this operation may be performed by the operator while still grasping the handle of the instrument, and whenever it is de- Patented Feb. 17, 19 14. A Application filed October 10, 1912. Serial No. 724,902. '4 1 sired to again connect thecircuit, this also ma be accomplished without inconvenience.

n detall, A .is the handle of the instrument, which is connected to the body of the same by a suitable frame, preferably a bailshaped, bent, metallic bar B.

C are the terminal contacts on the instrument preferably located in rear of the handle.

-D is a connector plug, which is attached F 1s a guide socket for the plug D, which directs the same into engagement with the terminal contacts 0, said guide bein pret erably secured to the frame B of the l iandle.

My improved means for interrupting the circuit comprises a resilient member for quickly adjusting the plug D without disengaging the same from the guide F. This, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is accomplished by slidably mounting the guide socket F upon the rear bar of the frame B which bar is arranged parallel to the terminal contacts 0,

G is the resilient member, preferably in the form of a flat spring, lying parallel with the horizontal portion B of the frame'B, and which may be secured at one end by a nut or bolt passing through the aperture H, which also secures the handle. The opposite end of the spring G is free-and is under tension to hold the same in the raised position shown in Fi .2. I is a projecting finger at the end 0 said spring, which passes through a slot J in the frame B and into engagement with the holder 'F. The latter is provided with guide bearings K, preferably struck up portions thereof, which embrace the frame bar B, as shown.

L is a trip-lever pivoted at M to the frame B, having its operating end adjacent to the handle A, while its opposite end extends to operated to disenga e the detent the tension of the spring G wil quickly slide the socket F upward, carrying with it the plug and breaking the electric contact.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, instead of moving the socket F the plug is vertically adjusted within said socket to disengage it from the electrical contacts. For this purpose the spring G is connected with a slidable member N, which at its upper end has the portion 0 for engaging the top of the plug, while the lower end of the plug is engaged by the projecting end of the finger I. WVhile the plug may be disengaged from the electrical contacts by the construction shown in Fig. 3, I prefer the construction shown in Fig. 1and to guard against accidental disengagement of the plug from the socket a retaining spring P is arranged on the socket to engage the top of the plug. To prevent interference with the attachment screw for the handle the spring G is preferably provided with an enlarged portion G, having an aperture G therein, through which the securing screw H may be passed.

Q, is a spring for normally holding the lever L in position to engage the detent thereof with the spring G.

In use, to close the circuit, the plug is pressed downward, which will automatically engage the spring G with the detent. The instrument may then be used, and at any time when it is desired to diminish the heat the current may be cut out by merely touching the lever L. It will be noted that the whole assembly is mounted upon the handle portion of the iron and may be employed with diiferent styles of base, or exchanged from one iron to another.

What I claim as my'invention is:

l. The combination with an electricallyheated instrument and terminal contacts therefor, of a plug connector for engaging said terminal contacts, a handle for said instrument, a holder for said plug upon said handle, permitting of the adjustment of the same into and out of connection with said contacts, a resilient member for disengaging said plug from said contacts, a detent for holding said resilient member under tension, and a trip for releasing said detent.

2. In an electrically-heated instrument, the combination with terminal contacts of a plug connector for engaging said contacts, a handle for said instrument, a socket-guide for said plug upon said handle, permitting of adjustment into and out of engagement with said terminal contacts, a resilient member secured to said handle and operating to actuate said plug out of engagement with the terminal contacts, a detent for said resilient member, and a trip for releasing said detent.

3.The combination with an electricallyheated instrument PIOVldBd'Wlt-ll projecting terminal contacts, of a handle for said in strument, a connector plug for engaging said contacts, a guide for said connector plug mounted upon said handle, a resilient member for actuating said guide to withdraw said plug from engagement with said terminal contacts, a detent for holding said plug and guide normally in connected position, and a trip for releasing said detent.

4. The combination with an electricallyheated instrument, having upwardly-projecting terminal contacts, of a handle for said instrument having a portion parallel to said contacts, a connector plug for engaging said contacts, a guide for said contacts, slidably mounted on the parallel portion of said handle, a resilient member for actuating said guide to withdraw said plug from said contacts, and a trip-lever mounted on said handle for normally holding said plug and guide in engaged position, and adapted to release the same.

5. In an electrically-heated instrument, the combination with outwardly-projecting terminal contacts, of a handle comprising a strap or bail-shaped member having a portion thereof parallel to said terminal contacts, a plug connector for engaging said contacts, a guide socket for said plug, slid ably mounted on the parallel portion ofqsaid handle, a spring mounted on the horizontal portion of said strap, engaging said socket and. operating to raise the same, and a triplever mounted on said handle having a detent for engaging with said spring tohold' the same in depressed position.

6. In an electrically-heated instrument, the combination with a body portion having upwardly-extending terminal contacts, of a handle for said body, comprising a U-shaped strap with one arm thereof parallel to said contacts, a plug connector for engaging said contacts, a socket for receiving said plug connector, slidably mounted upon said parallel portion of the strap, a spring mounted upon the horizontal portion of said strap having a projecting finger passing through a slot in said parallel portion and engaging said socket, and a lever mounted on said handle having a detent for engaging said spring to hold the same in depressed posi tion. i

7. The combination with an electricallyheated instrument and a handle therefor, of

terminal contacts projecting upward from 5 ranged horizontally, and having a portion said instrument in rear of said handle, a. contion, having releasing means in proximity 10 I nector plug for engaging said contacts, a to said handle.

guide for said connector plug, mounted on In testimony whereof I aflix my signature the rear portion of said handle, a spring al'- in presence of two witnesses.

.proj ecting through a slot in the rear portion I 7 ROBERT K of said handle to actuate said plug out of Witnesses: engagement with said contacts, and a detent GEORGE 8. Town,

for holding said spring in depressed posi- ROLAND DRESSEL. 

